Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on Thursday appointed the candidates who won their elections for circuit judge in Mercer and Greenbrier counties last week to serve the unexpired terms of their predecessors until next year.
Former state senator Mark Wills, who beat out his three opponents in the May 10 primary, will fill the remainder of Omar Aboulhosn's term as one of Mercer County's three circuit judges.
Aboulhosn was appointed a federal magistrate judge last year.
Wills, along with other candidates for Mercer circuit judge, Mercer Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ash and Princeton lawyer Gregory Prudich, were recommended by the state Judicial Vacancy Commission to Tomblin for the appointment.
Gerald Linkous, a Princeton lawyer, was the only candidate not recommended for the appointment.
Judicial elections in West Virginia are now nonpartisan so all of the races are decided in the primary election.
Assistant Greenbrier County prosecutor Jennifer Dent was appointed to fill the remainder of Circuit Judge James Rowe, who retired earlier this year.
Dent defeated assistant Kanawha County prosecutor Fred Giggenbach, a Greenbrier County native, and Lewisburg attorney Jeffrey Rodgers, in the primary.
The circuit that covers Greenbrier County also covers Pocahontas County. It has two circuit judges.
Tomblin waited until after the primary to make the appointments. Some have voiced concerns about judicial candidates being given an unfair advantage when they are appointed so close to an election.